John McGrew
Encyclopedia
John Burton McGrew was an American
animator
, painter
and musician. Although best known for working at Warner Bros. Cartoons
, where he was the studio's first designated layout artist, working under Chuck Jones
, he was also known as a member of the Hollywood blacklist
.
McGrew trained at the Chouinard Art Institute
, and joined the Warner Bros. background department shortly after graduation. When Chuck Jones (a fellow Chouinard alumnus) was promoted to director in 1938, he soon became dissatisfied at the backgrounds being provided for the cartoons. At this stage, the animation units did not have their own layout artists or background painters (with the exception of Bob Clampett
's unit, which was technically a separate studio; Clampett's background designer, Elmer Plummer was effectively the first Warner Bros. layout artist, though he never officially held the title), and a separate department was tasked with providing background elements for each of the studio's three main units. The directors were generally not given any say in what backgrounds they were provided with. Eventually, Jones gained permission from studio head Leon Schlesinger
to take a layout artist and background painter for his own unit, and Jones picked McGrew as layout artist, with Paul Julian
serving as background painter. The experiment proved a success, and the backgrounds department was soon disbanded, with directors choosing their own layout and background artists.
Previously, the studio's backgrounds had been considered to be somewhat unattractive by Jones, using a fairly mundane style with muted colors (which Jones disparagingly referred to as "shit-brindle"). Under McGrew and his contemporary layout artists (including Thomas McKimson
in Robert Clampett's unit, along with Owen Fitzgerald and then Hawley Pratt
in Friz Freleng
's unit), the animators pioneered a far more abstract method of drawing the backgrounds, which set them apart from competing studios such as Disney. While Jones's subsequent layout designers, Earl Klein and later Robert Gribbroek
would return to a more normal style of background design, his most famous layout man, Maurice Noble
took up an abstract style that in many ways resembled McGrew's earlier work.
After leaving the studio, McGrew entered the Navy, and after the end of World War II
, continued to work as an artist and occasional animator. However, McGrew's career in the United States was effectively ended when his former background painter, Gene Fleury testified to the House Un-American Activities Committee
that he and his wife had seen several fellow artists, including McGrew when they were attending Communist Party
meetings. While McGrew had not been an active member of several years, this was enough to get him added to the blacklist. In the wake of this, McGrew began touring Europe with his artwork, and eventually settled in France
, where he would spend the rest of his life. He was living in Le Bois d'Oingt, near Lyon
, at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and musician. Although best known for working at Warner Bros. Cartoons
Warner Bros. Cartoons
Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. was the in-house division of Warner Bros. Pictures during the Golden Age of American animation. One of the most successful animation studios in American media history, Warner Bros. Cartoons was primarily responsible for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical...
, where he was the studio's first designated layout artist, working under Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones
Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones was an American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio...
, he was also known as a member of the Hollywood blacklist
Hollywood blacklist
The Hollywood blacklist—as the broader entertainment industry blacklist is generally known—was the mid-twentieth-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other U.S. entertainment professionals who were denied employment in the field because of their political beliefs or...
.
McGrew trained at the Chouinard Art Institute
Chouinard Art Institute
The Chouinard Art Institute was a professional art school founded in 1921 in Los Angeles, California, by Nelbert Murphy Chouinard .-Founder:...
, and joined the Warner Bros. background department shortly after graduation. When Chuck Jones (a fellow Chouinard alumnus) was promoted to director in 1938, he soon became dissatisfied at the backgrounds being provided for the cartoons. At this stage, the animation units did not have their own layout artists or background painters (with the exception of Bob Clampett
Bob Clampett
Robert Emerson "Bob" Clampett was an American animator, producer, director, and puppeteer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes animated series from Warner Bros., and the television shows Time for Beany and Beany and Cecil...
's unit, which was technically a separate studio; Clampett's background designer, Elmer Plummer was effectively the first Warner Bros. layout artist, though he never officially held the title), and a separate department was tasked with providing background elements for each of the studio's three main units. The directors were generally not given any say in what backgrounds they were provided with. Eventually, Jones gained permission from studio head Leon Schlesinger
Leon Schlesinger
Leon Schlesinger was an American film producer, most noted for founding Leon Schlesinger Productions, which later became the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio, during the golden age of Hollywood animation.-Early life and career:...
to take a layout artist and background painter for his own unit, and Jones picked McGrew as layout artist, with Paul Julian
Paul Julian
Paul Julian was an American artist and designer most noted for his work as a background artist for Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes cartoon shorts. He worked primarily for director Friz Freleng's Sylvester and Tweety Bird shorts...
serving as background painter. The experiment proved a success, and the backgrounds department was soon disbanded, with directors choosing their own layout and background artists.
Previously, the studio's backgrounds had been considered to be somewhat unattractive by Jones, using a fairly mundane style with muted colors (which Jones disparagingly referred to as "shit-brindle"). Under McGrew and his contemporary layout artists (including Thomas McKimson
Thomas McKimson
Thomas Jacob "Tom" McKimson was an American animator, best known for his work at Warner Bros. studio. He was the older brother of animators Robert and Charles McKimson....
in Robert Clampett's unit, along with Owen Fitzgerald and then Hawley Pratt
Hawley Pratt
Hawley Pratt was an American film director, animator, and illustrator. He is best known for his work during the heyday of Warner Bros. Cartoons and as the right-hand man of director Friz Freleng as a layout artist and later as a director...
in Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
's unit), the animators pioneered a far more abstract method of drawing the backgrounds, which set them apart from competing studios such as Disney. While Jones's subsequent layout designers, Earl Klein and later Robert Gribbroek
Robert Gribbroek
Robert Gribbroek was a layout artist and background painter at the Warner Brothers Cartoon studio from 1945 until 1964. He was first credited in Chuck Jones' Lost and Foundling , and he worked mainly for Jones until 1952 when he joined Robert McKimson's unit...
would return to a more normal style of background design, his most famous layout man, Maurice Noble
Maurice Noble
Maurice Noble was an American animation background artist and layout designer whose contributions to the industry spanned more than 60 years. He was a long-time associate of animation director Chuck Jones, most notably at Warner Bros. in the 1950s...
took up an abstract style that in many ways resembled McGrew's earlier work.
After leaving the studio, McGrew entered the Navy, and after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, continued to work as an artist and occasional animator. However, McGrew's career in the United States was effectively ended when his former background painter, Gene Fleury testified to the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
that he and his wife had seen several fellow artists, including McGrew when they were attending Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
meetings. While McGrew had not been an active member of several years, this was enough to get him added to the blacklist. In the wake of this, McGrew began touring Europe with his artwork, and eventually settled in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he would spend the rest of his life. He was living in Le Bois d'Oingt, near Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, at the time of his death.